Services

White River Humane Society is an independent non-profit organization that operates separately from the government partners who we have service contracts with. Animal Control services are provided by the government partners who respond to calls from citizens in Lawrence County and the cities and towns within. Each government jurisdiction operates their animal control services independently from each other and our organization. White River Humane Society agrees to take in the animals which are picked up as strays or considered to be at-large within the parameters of our contractual agreement.

Citizens who are concerned about the welfare of stray animals are able to bring the animals to White River Humane Society for assistance. Depending on our capacity, we can evaluate if we are able to take the animal into our care. There is a $100 pet surrender fee for citizens who are relinquishing an animal into our care. The reason why we charge a pet surrender fee (even though it may not be 'your' cat or dog) is because we do not receive funding from tax payer dollars unless the animal is brought to us via an animal control entity. We are required by state law to spay/neuter animals prior to adoption and we also administer care, shelter and vaccinations (none of which are free to our organization). 

The average cost of care per animal is over $380. We cannot exist as an organization without money to provide these services. We have a donation fund for those who would like to donate financially, in support of other community members who have intervened and brought a stray animal to us. When we have funds in the Stray Pet Surrender fund, we can help to offset the $100 citizen surrender fee on a case by case basis.

Pet owners who can no longer keep their dog or cat may contact WRHS to schedule an appointment with a member of our shelter management for an intake evaluation. Managers have the discretion to decide if we are able to take in an animal (i.e. capacity, animal temperament & adoptability, etc.) Please contact a manager to make an appointment by emailing wrhsmgt@gmail.com or call 812-279-2457.

Owner Surrender Fee: $300 (cat or dog) that is unaltered (not already spayed/neutered) AND not currently up to date on routine vaccinations

Owner Surrender Fee: $200 (cat or dog) that is EITHER already spayed/neutered but not currently up to date on routine vaccinations OR unaltered (not already spayed/neutered) but IS up to date on routine vaccinations -veterinary records required for proof of spay/neuter &/or vaccinations

Owner Surrender Fee: $100 (cat or dog) that is already spayed/neutered AND up to date on routine vaccinations -veterinary records required for proof of spay/neuter & vaccinations

WRHS would love to be able to say YES to everyone that requests for us to take their pet in. We are not fully funded by tax dollars and have to fundraise to have money to be able to exist as an organization to take care of the lost, abandoned and homeless animals. We understand that sometimes financial hardship is a factor in no longer being able to take care of your pet, however our organization also has bills to cover as we continue to take care of these pets.